Alex's dagger and staff moved like an extension of his own body, parrying Nivran's relentless tail swipes and claws.
Alice darted around the cavern, loosing arrow after arrow in a desperate bid to pierce the dragon's armor-like scales.
Each strike chipped away at the beast's massive health pool, their coordinated efforts showing glimmers of hope.
But Nivran was no ordinary foe.
The dragon let out a thunderous roar, the vibrations so intense that stalactites fell from the cavern ceiling.
His molten eyes locked onto Alex, radiating malice.
"Little mortal," Nivran growled, his voice deep and resonant, "your bravery borders on stupidity. Let us see how long you can survive my fury."
Alex didn't respond.
Words wouldn't save him here, and he knew it.
His body tensed as the dragon lunged forward, claws tearing into the ground with a deafening screech.
Alex barely had time to dodge, rolling to the side as the dragon's strike shattered the floor where he had stood.
"Stay on him!" Alex yelled, his voice barely audible over the sound of battle.
Alice nodded, loosing an arrow aimed at Nivran's head.
The projectile struck, lodging itself between the dragon's scaled plates. Nivran hissed in irritation, thrashing his head to dislodge it.
[Weakness hit, dealing 1000% of damage!]
-23,381,172!
"Nice!" Alex grinned, he knew he couldn't underestimate the archer girl after all, even though many opponents did.
"You think yourselves clever? Your tactics are as feeble as your weapons!"
But the dragon was learning.
He pivoted suddenly, his tail whipping around in a wide arc. Alice, mid-dodge, wasn't fast enough.
The tail struck her side, sending her crashing into a nearby wall.
"Alice!" Alex shouted, lunging forward to intercept Nivran's follow-up attack.
He swung his dagger upward to block the tail, the weapon glowing with crimson energy, then he immediately unleashed a [Giant Blood Blade] as a projectile.
The attack struck Nivran's chest, cutting deep and forcing the dragon to recoil.
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Nivran howled in pain, his massive body recoiling.
"You will pay for that!" he roared, his claws lashing out blindly.
Alice barely managed to dodge, rolling behind a jagged crystal formation for cover.
The fight raged on, both sides trading blows.
Alex fought with calculated ferocity, weaving in and out of the dragon's reach while using every skill in his arsenal.
He conjured blazing meteors and crimson spikes, each attack chipping away at the dragon's health.
Both sides were using everything they had, the dragon his [Solar Flames] or even [Cataclysmic Swipe].
Alice provided cover, her arrows keeping Nivran distracted and forcing him to divide his attention.
It was working, slowly but surely, they were gaining the upper hand.
Nivran's movements grew sluggish, his roars tinged with frustration as his health dropped below 70,000,000.
[Soul has been strengthened by the Heart of Calamity.]
[Attack cannot harm you.]
Alex straightened, the ethereal energy dissipating harmlessly around him.
Nivran's eyes narrowed in confusion and frustration as he struck again, and again, each attack failing to find purchase.
"What... What is this?" the dragon growled, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Why won't you break?"
Alex's expression was cold and unyielding, recovering from the initial surprise and fear.
"You can't hurt me that way. You'll have to try something else."
The dragon roared in fury, abandoning his [Soul Attacks] in favor of raw physical strength.
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His claws slashed at Alex with brutal force, each strike shaking the cavern.
Alex dodged and countered, his [Blood Arts] creating weapons and clones to block and retaliate.
But the relentless assault was wearing him down.
Alex's movements grew slower, his attacks less precise.
He could feel the weight of the battle pressing down on him, and Nivran knew it.
"It doesn't matter! You're still weak, and I will tear you apart with my own hands!"
The dragon's chest swelled as he inhaled deeply, flames gathering in his maw.
Alex braced himself, knowing he wouldn't survive the next attack. He glanced at Alice's motionless form, a pang of despair threatening to overwhelm him.
But then, just as the torrent of flames was about to consume him, a massive shadow descended between them.
A familiar figure landed between Alex and the dragon, wings outstretched in a protective shield.
A wing.
A torn, battered wing, but one large enough to shield Alex from the flames.
"Not today, Nivran," came a familiar voice, low and strained but unyielding.
Alex's eyes widened as Alphox stood before him, his body battered but defiant.
The hole in his wing was still visible, but his remaining strength was undeniable.
"Alphox..." Alex whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.
Nivran recoiled, his flames dissipating as his gaze locked onto Alphox.
For a moment, there was silence, the tension in the cavern suffocating.
"You," Nivran spat, his voice dripping with hatred. "You dare show your face here? After everything you've done?"
Alphox folded his good wing, stepping forward with deliberate slowness.
"I don't need my wings to kill you, Nivran. You and the others have been asking for this for a long time."
The molten glow of Nivran's eyes intensified, his rage boiling over.
He let out a deafening roar, the cavern trembling under the force of his fury. "You will die, Alphox!"
The tension in the cavern reached its breaking point as the two dragons faced off.
Alphox, weakened but resolute, stood between Alex and certain death.
Alex, still clutching his weapons, steadied himself. He wasn't done fighting yet.